Cap-applying apparatus



Oei. 7, 1924.

A. B. STARR CAP APPLYING APPARATUS .Filed Feb. 24, 1923 s sheets-smet 2INVENTOR. /ILDEN B. 577W? BYv l A TTORNEYS Ost. 7 1924.

A. B. STARR CAP APPLYING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 24, 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5ATTORNEY.

INVENToR ALOE/V 57mm Patented @et 7, QM.

UNITED STATES ALBEN B. STARR, OF BRDOKLYN, NEIN YORK.

CAP-APPLYING APPARATUS.

Application filed February 24, 1.923.

To all whom '1125' may concern.'

Be it known that i. ALDnN B. STARR, a citizen of the United States,residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State oil" New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CapApplyingApparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to cap applying machines and embodiments of myinvention are adapted for applying flanged caps .over the ends ot theircomplementary body members, as in the case ot` `cylindrical paperreceptacles closed atone or both ends. l show herein my inventionapplied to a machine for capping one end ot' a cylindrical receptacle,although it will be understood that the invention is equally appli-cableto recepn tacles of different cross section and the term cylindrical isnot used herein in any limiting sense. Furthermore, it is manifest thatthe cap-applying mechanism may be dupli cated and operate simultaneouslyon both ends of the receptacle and I have so eniployed it, although, torsimplicity of illustration, I showy it herein in single construction. Itthe cap is a paper cap and is to be glued to the body, the glue willpreferably be applied to the body prior to the application of the cap,and it is evident that either or both ends may have a cap applied andglued thereon by my mechanism.

An object of my invention is to provide a machine for this purpose whichwill apply the caps at relatively very high speed with the greatestaccuracy and which will be simple and inexpensive in its construction,as well as entirely reliable in its operation. in accordance ywith myinvention.r l employ a head which carries the cap and which moves overthe end of the receptacle body advanced at the proper time into axialalignment with the head, rlhe construction ot the head is such that itguides the cap upon the receptacle body and then expands and withdraws,leaving the cap in place.

The head is a hollow member, the interior of which is ot' the shape otthe cap, a suitable feeding device. being employed to deliver the capsat the proper time to the interior ot the head. A. plunger moves withinthe head and on the front end of the head are jaws which open and closeand which are adapted to be cammed open by the entrance Ot the plungerwithin them. The jaws have a guiding shoulder formed on Serial No.620,924.

their inner face which is of substantially the same height as thethickness of the cap wall, and 'from the shoulder the jaws Hareoutwardly to provide a flaring mouth. A suitable resilient devicenormally holds the jaws closed.

The receptacle bodies are advanced one by one in front ot the head andin aXial align ment therewith, and cams operate the head and plunger aswell as a suitable escapement device for feeding the caps at the propertime into the head in front ot the initial position of the plunger. rPhecams operate first to advance the plunger and thereby insert a capwithin the jaws of the head where it is seated with its trent annularedge behind the guiding shoulder. The head and plunger then move forwardt0- gether, the shoulder passingover the end of the receptacle body andguiding the cap upon the body. While the plunger dwells in this positionthe head is slightly r-etracted in the torni shown, sufficiently to openthe aws and release the cap, although it is evident that this movementcould be reversed., the head being stationary while the plungercompletes its movement ot applying the cap. The head and plunger thencontinue their rearward movement together until the head reaches itsinitial position, after which the plunger moves on alone to its initialposition.

My invention comprehends various other details o'l construction as willhereinafter more fully appear. l shall now describe the illustratedembodiment of my invention and shall ythereafter point out my inventionin claims.

Fig. l is a front elevation of a complete apparatus embodying` myinvention;

Fig. 2 is side elevation. of the same as viewed from the right. side oiFigure l g Figs. 3, 4:, 5 and 6 are diagrammatic sectional views ot thehead shown in operative relation to a receptacle body and in. thevarious positions: of the. parts in applying the cap.

Referring first. to the showing of Figures 3. t, 5 and 6: The head l. isshown as a hol low cylinder'havingan open slot 2 in its upper side forreceiving the cap 3. The rear end of the head l is secured in a cupshaped end t of a casting` 5 which is mort` or less oblong in crosssection and which is axially reciprocated through a mechanismhereinafter to be described. The casting 5 has a longitudinal axialopening serving as a bearing' for av stem 6 of a plunger or piston whichis initially disposed in the rear end of the cylindrical head 1 baclr ofthe slot2. The internal diameter of the' head 1 is somewhat larger thanthe external diameter of the cap- 3. ln the illustrated form, it issho-wn as having a differential internal diameter to aid in guiding thecap into itsv eventual seat, although this is not' essential.

vvllinged to external lugs on the front end off the head 1 are aplurality of arcuate jaws 8, shown asv six in number. Then these jawsare closed they make a substantially complete annulus forming acontinuation of the head. )in annular coil .spring 9 (shown in Figure 1)resiliently biases these jaws to closed position. The internal diameterof thejaws, when closed, is substantially that of the externaldiameterof thev cap, a capreceiving chamber 10 being thereby formed within thejaws in which the cap exactly lits. The rear endsV oi.l the jaws ontheir inner faces Lare beveled off to meet the larger cylindricalsurface ofl the head 1, and an annular cam surface 11 is thereby formed.The diameter of the plunger 7 is substantially that of the internaldiameter of the head, and thefront annular edge of the plunger' isbeveled off to form a cani cooperative with the cam surface 11. Thecap-receiving cham-ber 1() within the jaws terminates at itsjfront endin an overhanging annular shoulder 12, the height of whichIsubstantiallythe same as the thickness oi'.1 the cap fla-nge. From thisshoulder 12 the mouth of the jaws flares outwardly, shown. I j Y Sincethe diameter of the shoulder 12 is substantially the same as theinternal diameter of the cap flange, it is substantially the same as theexternal diameter of the re ceptacle 13. lVhen the head is advanced overthe end of the receptacle, it follows. therefore, that while the flaringmouth com pensates for any error in the position of 'the receptacle, theshoulder 12 will true the end of the receptacle to an exact circle, thereceptacle, meanwhile., being `brought around by the flaring mouth toexact axial. alignment with the head. As shown, the capreceiving;`chamber' 10 is slightly wider than is'the flange of the cap. This is toallow for the slight relative axial movement that is necessary betweenthe cap and the jaws in order to open the jaws, as will presentlyappear.

The receptacle 13 is brought around by a sprocket chain 1li, being heldbetween com; pl'ementary semi-circular grippers 15 which are integralwith certain of the links of the sprocket chain. A suitable 'backing andguidingv plate 1G is provided in the construction shown for the oppositeend of the.

receptacle, although it is' evident that` a second head, like" thatalready described,` .may simultaneously operate upon that end of thereceptacle.

ln the operation of the mechanism, a cap is at the proper time deliveredthrough the slot 2 within the head immediately in advance of the plungerT, the parts being .at that time in their fully retracted position,which is the initial position shown in FigM ure 3. Next the plunger 7isy advanced so as to insert the cap 3 ywithin the cap-receiving chamber10. This is the position shown in Figure 4.. Next, the head and plungerare moved fori'vardtogether so as' to apply the cap to the end off thereceptacle. This is the position shown in Figure Next the head isslightly retracted while' the plunger is held still, the cam face of theplunge-r thus being caused to ride up' the cam face 11 and openjtliejaws. This is the position ot the parts shown in Figure' 6. Next thehead and plunger are retracted to' their initial position, shown in'Figure, leaving the c ap upon the receptacle. The" capped receptacle isthen movedaway and another one is brought into position for capping,another cap 3 being atltha't' saine time deliveredto the head 1, andtheabove described operation is repeated. The mfeclianism for effectingthese various operations will now be described with particular reterence to Figures 1 and 2.

The frame of the machine has abed plate 17 from which rises two-side'members' 18 and 19 and on the left end an upriglit casting 20. Alongitudinally extending shaft 21 is disposed along the front of themachine, bearingat its left end in a bearing sleeve 22 attached to thecasting 2Q,r andv near its right end in bearing sleeves 23' and 24integralv with bracket I25 which is 'at-j tached to the side piece' 18.The shaft 21 is driven by a sprocket chaiirQfG from any suit-able sourceof power, which chain drives a sprocket wheel 2T, the' hub of whichdisposed on 'the shaft 21 between the bearing sleeves and 24t and ispinned or oth-y erwise secured to the shaft. The sprocket chain 14 whichserves as a carrier for the receptacles 13 is progressed stepby step bya Geneva movement interposedbetween the' shaft 21 and the sprocket chain14,' as will now be described.

Keyed to the left end of the shaft 21 i just inside the bearing 22 is anarm 28 having a roller 29 on the innenr face ofits y outer end. A stubshaft 30 bears in a bracket 31 secured to the bed plate of the chineparallel to and directly beneath the left end of the main shaft v21, andon this stub sha-ft is loosely mounted the star wheel 32 of the Genevamovement in a position to be actuated by the rollerA 29. The cocpmat1 velocking wheel. of the Geneva is also keyed to the shaft 21 and rotateswith the arm 28. spur gear wheel 34 on the stub shaft is secured to theface of the star wheel 32 in the usual way and this gear wheel 34 mesheswith and drives a gear wheel 35 which is loose on the shaft 21. The hubof the gear wheel 35 pinned to the hub of a sprocket wheel 36 on theshaft 21 and is also keyed to a sleeve 37 on the shaft 21. The right endof this sleeve 37 is keyed to the hub of the other sprocket wheel 387and the sprocket chains 14 mesh with the sprocket wheels 36 and 38. Inthis way the gear wheel 35 is actuated a quarter of a turn for everyrevolution of the shaft 21 and this step-by-step movement is imparted tothe sprocket chains 14. lt will be seen by reference to Figure 2 thatthe semiscircular grippers 15, being integral with the alternate linksof the chain, will close up on the straight runs of the chain and willopen up as the chains pass down over the sprocket wheels 36 and 38 andagain when they pass up over the sprocket wheels (not shown), at theother end of the carrier. The container bodies 13 are pla-ced in theseopen grippers atthe opposite end of the machine and are brought up in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, in front of thecap-applying head. The guide plate 16 which extends longitudinally ofthe machine and serves as an abutment for the outer end of thereceptacle bodies, is secured to the eastA ing 20. A complementaryrguide plate 39 for the capping end of the receptacles is supported inany suitable way parallel to the guide plate 16 and terminates justshort of the capping head.

Un the right end of the shaft 21 is a bevel gear 40 which meshes withanother bevel gear 41 ou the end of a countershaft. 42. Thiscountershaft bears in the side pieces i8 and 19 and on the front end ofthis oountershaft is keyed a head-operat ing cam 43 and on its inner endis keyed a plunger-operating cam 44. These cams are internal or facecams. their cam grooves being indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1.

A rock shaft 45 bears in the side pieces 18 and 19 at the left of andparallel to the countershaft 42, and a cam roller 46 is connected to andoperates this rock shaft through a crank arm 47. Keyed to thisrockjshaft 45 are two upstanding arms 48 and 49 which are bifurcated attheir upper ends and straddle blocks which are pinned in slots in therear end of the casting This casting has two side longitudinallyextending tongues or runners which are guided in complementary groovesinthe side pieces 18 and 19, the runners being indicated by the numerals50 and 51 in Figure 2.v The cam groove in the cam 43 is shaped to rockthe shaft `45 and thereby reciprocate the casting and the through thearms 48 and 49.v

Bearing in the side pieces 13 and 19 parM allel to and atv the right ofthe countershaft 42 is another rock shaft 52 which is actuated by thecam 44 through an arm on the lower end of which is a cani roller in thegroove of the cam 44. At the center of the rock shaft 52 is keyed asleeve 55 integral with which is an upstanding arm 56 which isbifurcated at its upper end and straddles a cross pin 57 in thebifurcated rear end of the stem 6 of the plunger 7. The cam groove inthe cam head y l 44 is shaped to impart a reciprocative inotion to theplunger 7. The caps are delivered through a chute 58 and their deliveryinto the head is Controlled by an escapement 59 which is operated by acam 60 on the shaft 42 through a link and lever motion consisting of thebell crank 61 pivoted to the frame and connected to the escapementthrough link 62 and to the cam through link 63 at the lower end of whichis the cam roller 64.

The parts are all operated through the mechanism above described in the.proper timed relation. The shaft 21 is driven in a counterclockwisedirection. as viewed in Figure 2, and the cams 43 and 44 are, thereNfore, driven in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1. In theposition of the parts' shown in Figures 1 and 2, a cap has justi beendelivered to the head. As the cams 43 and 44 continue their rotation theplunger 7 will first be advanced to insert the cap into the jaws, whenthe head will begin to move forward with the plunger and proceed farenough to apply the cap to the receptacle 13. It will then be observedthat there will be a momentary dwell of the plunger in that positionwhile the head begins its rearward movement. which operation. as aboveexplained. opens the jaws and releases the caps. whereupon the plunger 7is started back and moves with the head and continues its movement afterthe limit of the movement of the head is reached` untilI the plungerreaches its initial position again. The capped receptacles automaticallydrop out of the grippers as they pass around the front sprocket wheels.

It 1s obvious that various modificationsI may be made in theconstruction shown in the drawings, and ahove particularly describedwithin the principle and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A cap-applying apparatus comprising a tubular head carrying outwardlymov able jaws at its front end, means resiliently holding the jawsclosed to form a continuation of the tubular head, and a plunger movableaxially in the head for inserting a cap within the.l jaws and adaptedupon a further movement relative toV the head to open the jaws andrelease thecap.

2. A capapplying appz'tratus comprising a tubular head carryingoutwardly `movable jaws at its liront end, means resiliently hold ingthe jaws closed to 'form a continuation ot the tubular head ot.substantially the shape and size of the cap to be applied, the jawshaving adjacent theirA 'forward edge a guiding shoulder oiI a depthsubstantially7 equal to the wall of the cap, and a plunger movableaxially in the head for inserting a cap within the aws and ada ted upona Yturther movement relative to4 t ie head to open the jaws and releasethe cap.

El, Cap-applying apparatus con'iprising a 'radially expansible hollowhead having an internal concentric cap-receiving chamber of a size tolit accurately over a cap and terminating at its front end in acircumferential guiding shoulder oi" a height substantially equal to thethickness of a cap wall, means to bring a receptacle body into axialalignment with the head, means to move the head axially over the end ofthe receptacle body to apply the cap, and means to'expand the head atthe conclusion of said axial movement. f

Ll. Cap-applying apparatus comprising a radially expansible hollow headhaving an internal concentric cap-receiving chamber oit a size to litaccurately over a cap and teri'ninating at its front end in acircumferential guiding shoulder ot a height substantially equal to thethickness ot a cap wall, a plunger axially movable in said head, meansto deliver a cap in said head in front of the plunger, means to bring areceptacle body into axial alignment with the head, and power drivenmechanismtimed first to advance the plunger to seat the cap in thecapreceiving chamber, then to advance the plunger and head togetheruntil the cap is applied to the receptacle body, then to expand thehead, and then to retract the head and plunger.

5. In a cap-applying apparatus, a head comprising a plurality ofradially expansible aws shaped when closed to torni-an annulus theinternal size of which isM substantially the same as' the external sizeot a cap to be applied and which hasa guiding shoulder at its liront endof substantially the thickness of the cap wall and amouth flaringoutwardly from the shoulder, and means resiliently holding the jawsclosed.

6. In a cap-applying apparatus, a hollow head including a plurality ofjaws'hinged tothe front end of the head and adapted when closed toforina continuation ot the head with an internal size and shapecorresponding to those of a cap to be applied and having an internalguiding shoulder at its front end of substantially the thickness of thecap wall and a mouth flaring outwardly from the shoulder, and meansresil-v iently holding the jaws closed.

7. ln a cap-applying apparatus, a hollow head including a plurality ofjaws hinged to the front. end of the head and adapted when closed toform a continuation of the head with an internal size and shapecorresponding to those of a cap to be applied and having an internalguiding shoulder at its iront end of substantiall'y the thickness oitherap' wall and a mouth flaring. outa wardly from the shoulder,y meansresilientl-y holding the jaws closed, and Aa plunger movable in the headand adapted to impel a cap' into the jaws and to open the jaws byfurther relative inward movement.

8. In a cap-applying apparatus, a head' comprising a hollow cylinder,the internal diameter of which is larger than the size of a cap to beapplied, a plurality of jaws hingedto the tront end oit the cylinder andiormingvwhen closed an annular continuation of the cylinder' with aninternal diameter corresponding to the cap size and havingV an internalguiding shoulder at its` front end of substantially the thickness of thecap wall and a mout-h flaring outwardly from the shoulder, the rinnertace of the jaws adjacent their hinged endshaving--a beveled portion'forming an annular cam surface' connecting the internalV cylindricalsurfaces ot the jaws and cylinder, means vresiliently holding the awsclosed, and a plunger mov able in the head to impel a cap into the jawsand having a beveled periphery adapt-y ed to open the jaws by relativemovement of the plunger within the cam surface.

9. In a cap-applying apparatusa hollow head including a plurality ofjaws hinged to the front end of theheadand adapted when, closed to forma continuation of the' head with an internal size and` shape cor:responding tothose of a ca-p to beapplied and having an internal guidingshoulder at its front end of substantially tliethic'lsness ofthe capwall and a mouth flaringoutwardly `trom the shoulder, meansres'il;iently holding thejawscclosed, a plunger movable in the head and adaptedto impel' a cap into the jaws and to open the jaws by further relativeinward movement, means to deliver ya cap in said head in front of theplunger,v means toy bring a receptacle body into axial alignment withthehead, and ypower vdrivenmechanisin timed irst to advance the plungerto insert the cap within the jaws, then to advance the plunger and headtogether until the cap is applied to the receptacle body, then `toretract'the head over the plunger to open the jaws and then to. retractthehead and plunger.

l0. A cap-applying apparatus comprising an axially reciprocable head`r aplunger movable axially within the head for inserting. a cap therein, adevice for `feeding the caps narines to the head in advance of theplunger, a carrier for receptacle bodies arranged to run in front of thehead, a power driven shaft, a step-bystep drive connection between theshaft and the carrier, and cams driven by the shaft and operativesuccessively to feed a cap in front of the plunger, to advance theplunger and insert the cap in 'the head, and to move the head over areceptacle to apply the cap.

1l. A cap-applying apparatus comprising an axially reciprocable hollowhead including a plurality of jaws hinged to the front end of the headand adapted when closed f to form a continuation of the head with aninternal size and shape corresponding to those of the cap to be appliedand having an internal guiding shoulder at its front end ofsubstantially the thickness of the cap wall and a mouth Haring outwardlyfrom the shoulder', means resiliently holding the jaws closed, aplungerl movable in the head and adapted to impel a cap into the jawsand to open the jaws by further relative inward movement, a device forfeeding the caps to the head in advance of the plunger', a carrier forreceptacle bodies arranged to run in front of the head, a power drivenshaft, a step-by-step drive connection between the shaft and thecarrier, and cams driven by the shaft and controlling the movements ofthe head` plunger and cap feeding device.

12A capapplying apparatus compris` ing an axially reciprocable hollowcylindrical head transversely slotted in its upper side to receive a capand having an internal diameter exceeding the size of the cap andincluding a plurality of jaws hinged to its front end forming whenclosed an annular continuation of the head with an internal diametercorresponding to the cap size and having an internal guidingJ shoulderat its front end of substantially the'thickness of the cap wall and amouth flaring outward from the shoulder, the inner face of the jawsadjacent their hinged ends having a beveled portion forming an annularcam surface connecting the internal cylindrical surfaces of the jaws andhead, means resiliently holding the jaws closed, a plunger initiall 1disposed back of the slot in the head and movv able axially within thehead to impel a cap into the jaws and having a beveled periphery adaptedto open the jaws by relative movement of the plunger within the camsurface, a feeding device for feeding the caps to the slot in the head,a carrier for receptacle bodies arranged to run in front of the head, apower driven shaft, a stepby-step drive connection between the shaft andthe carri-er, cams controlling the 1novements of the head and plungerarranged lirst to advance the plunger to insert a cap within the jaws,then to advance the plunger and head together until the cap is appliedto a receptacle body on the carrier, then to retract the head on theplunger sufficient-ly to open the jaws, and then to retract the head andplunger to their initial positions, and a cam driven by the shaftoperative to actuate the cap feeding device in timed relation to themovements of the head and plunger.

i3. cap-applying head comprising a plurality of jaws arranged to openand close and adapted when closed to retain a cap within them, meansresiliently holding the jaws in one position, and a plunger movablerelative to the jaws and operative to move the jaws to their otherposition.

ld. A cap-applying head comprising a plurality of jaws arranged to openand close and shaped internallj,7 to receive and hold a cap within theirfront ends when the jaws are closed and beveled adjacent their rear endsto form a cam surface, resilient means biasing the jaws to one position,and a plunger movable axially of the head and having a cam portion atits forward face cooperative with the cam surfaces of the jaws to forcethe jaws to their other position when the plunger is moved forward.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my signature.

ALDEN B. STARR.

